Reference equations for harmonizing gait speed results of different test protocols in community-dwelling older adults

• Published in: Aging clinical and experimental research 2023-02, Vol.35 (2), p.413-416
• Main Authors: Lindemann, Ulrich, Krumpoch, Sebastian, Freiberger, Ellen, Klenk, Jochen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; Comorbidity; Female; Gait; Geriatrics/Gerontology; Humans; Independent Living; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Older people; Regression analysis; Short Communication; Walking; Walking Speed
• ISSN: 1720-8319; 1594-0667; 1720-8319
• DOI: 10.1007/s40520-022-02309-3

Background and aims Different gait speed assessment protocols regarding start and stop of walking make comparison between studies impossible. The aim of this study was providing reference equations to estimate a person´s steady-state gait speed from gait speed measured with a test protocol including static start and/or stop. Methods Gait speed of 150 community-dwelling older adults (mean age 80.5 ± 4.5 years; 61% women) was measured over 4 m with different assessment protocols regarding start and stop of walking on an instrumented walkway. Reference equations to estimate steady-state gait speed from the results of other test protocols were calculated by regression analysis within a fivefold cross-validation. Results Mean absolute errors and the root mean squared errors of all reference equations ranged from 0.063 m/s to 0.074 m/s and 0.082 m/s to 0.096 m/s, respectively. Conclusions The provided reference equations can help harmonizing results between studies in community-dwelling older adults.